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+# CLAUDE.md
+
+This file provides guidance to Claude Code (claude.ai/code) when working with code in this repository.
+
+## Project Overview
+
+This is **test_factory**, a PostgreSQL extension that provides a framework for managing unit test data in databases. It solves the common problem of creating and maintaining test data by providing a system to register test data definitions once and retrieve them efficiently with automatic dependency resolution.
+
+## Build System & Development Commands
+
+This project uses PGXNtool for build management. Key commands:
+
+### Building and Installation
+```bash
+make                    # Build the extension
+make install           # Install to PostgreSQL
+make clean             # Clean build artifacts
+make distclean         # Clean all generated files including META.json
+```
+
+### Testing
+```bash
+make test              # Run full test suite (install, then test)
+make installcheck      # Run tests only (no clean/install)
+make results           # Update expected test results (only after verifying tests pass!)
+```
+
+### Distribution
+```bash
+make tag               # Create git tag for current version
+make dist              # Create distribution zip file
+make forcetag          # Force recreate tag if it exists
+make forcedist         # Force tag + distribution
+```
+
+## Architecture & Key Components
+
+### Core API Functions
+- `tf.register(table_name, test_sets[])` - Register test data definitions for a table
+- `tf.get(table_type, set_name)` - Retrieve test data, creating it if it doesn't exist
+- `tf.tap(table_name, set_name)` - pgTAP integration wrapper for testing
+
+### Database Schema Organization
+- `tf` schema: User-facing API (functions, types)
+- `_tf` schema: Internal implementation (tables, security definer functions)
+- `_test_factory_test_data` schema: Cached test data storage
+- Uses dedicated `test_factory__owner` role for security isolation
+
+### Security Model
+- Role-based access with `test_factory__owner` for data management
+- Security definer functions with `search_path=pg_catalog`
+- Proper permission isolation between user and system operations
+
+### Key Data Structures
+```sql
+CREATE TYPE tf.test_set AS (
+    set_name    text,     -- Name to reference this test data set
+    insert_sql  text      -- SQL command that returns test data rows
+);
+```
+
+### Test Data Workflow
+1. **Registration**: Use `tf.register()` to define how test data is created
+2. **Retrieval**: Call `tf.get()` to obtain test data (creates on first call)
+3. **Caching**: Test data is stored permanently for fast subsequent access
+4. **Dependencies**: Test sets can reference other test sets via embedded `tf.get()` calls
+
+### Performance & Caching
+- Test data created once and cached in permanent tables
+- Subsequent `tf.get()` calls return cached data without recreation
+- Data remains available even if source tables are modified/truncated
+- Dependency resolution handled automatically during creation
+
+## File Structure Key Points
+
+### SQL Files
+- `sql/test_factory.sql` and `sql/test_factory--0.5.0.sql`: Main extension code
+- Complex role management and schema setup with proper cleanup
+- Security definer functions for safe cross-schema operations
+
+### Build Configuration  
+- `META.in.json`: Template for PGXN metadata (processed to `META.json`)
+- `test_factory.control`: PostgreSQL extension control file
+- `Makefile`: Simple inclusion of pgxntool's build system
+
+## Development Workflow
+
+1. **Making Changes**: Modify source files in `sql/` directory
+2. **Testing**: Run `make test` to ensure all tests pass
+3. **Version Updates**: Update version in both `META.in.json` and `test_factory.control`  
+4. **Distribution**: Use `make dist` to create release packages
+
+## Extension Architecture Details
+
+The extension handles complex bootstrapping during installation:
+- Creates temporary role tracking for safe installation
+- Sets up three schemas with proper ownership and permissions  
+- Uses security definer pattern for controlled access to internal functions
+- Automatically restores original database role after installation
+- Implements dependency resolution through recursive `tf.get()` calls
+
+## Usage Patterns
+
+### Basic Registration
+```sql
+SELECT tf.register(
+    'customer',
+    array[
+        row('base', 'INSERT INTO customer VALUES (DEFAULT, ''Test'', ''User'') RETURNING *')::tf.test_set
+    ]
+);
+```
+
+### With Dependencies
+```sql 
+SELECT tf.register(
+    'invoice', 
+    array[
+        row('base', 'INSERT INTO invoice VALUES (DEFAULT, (tf.get(NULL::customer, ''base'')).customer_id, current_date) RETURNING *')::tf.test_set
+    ]
+);
+```
+
+### Data Retrieval
+```sql
+-- Gets customer test data, creating it if needed
+SELECT * FROM tf.get(NULL::customer, 'base');
+
+-- Gets invoice test data, automatically creating dependent customer data
+SELECT * FROM tf.get(NULL::invoice, 'base'); 
+```
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+# Test Framework Documentation
+
+This file provides guidance for understanding and working with the test_factory extension test suite.
+
+## Test Framework Overview
+
+The test_factory extension uses **pgTAP** (PostgreSQL's unit testing framework) for comprehensive testing. Tests are organized using PGXNtool's standardized testing infrastructure.
+
+## Test Structure
+
+### Test Files
+- `test/sql/base.sql` - Core functionality tests (22 tests)
+- `test/sql/install.sql` - Extension installation/uninstallation tests  
+- `test/sql/pgtap.sql` - pgTAP integration and `tf.tap()` function tests
+
+### Expected Results
+- `test/expected/*.out` - Expected test output for regression testing
+- `test/results/*.out` - Actual test output (generated during test runs)
+
+### Test Helpers
+- `test/helpers/setup.sql` - Test environment initialization and pgTAP setup
+- `test/helpers/create.sql` - Test data registration and security validation
+- `test/helpers/create_extension.sql` - Extension creation wrapper
+- `test/helpers/deps.sql` - Test dependency management
+- Other helper files for role management and pgTAP integration
+
+## Test Coverage Analysis
+
+### Core Functionality Tests (`base.sql`)
+1. **Extension Setup** - Creates extension and test tables
+2. **Data Registration** - Tests `tf.register()` with multiple test sets
+3. **Basic Retrieval** - Tests `tf.get()` returns correct data
+4. **Dependency Resolution** - Tests automatic creation of dependent data (customer → invoice)
+5. **Caching Behavior** - Verifies data consistency across multiple `tf.get()` calls  
+6. **Table Independence** - Tests that cached data persists after source table changes
+7. **Function-based Test Data** - Tests using functions as test data sources
+
+### Security Tests (`create.sql`)
+- **Role Management** - Validates proper role restoration after installation
+- **Security Definer Functions** - Ensures all privileged functions use `search_path=pg_catalog`
+- **Permission Isolation** - Tests with unprivileged `test_role`
+- **Temp Table Cleanup** - Verifies temporary installation objects are removed
+
+### Installation Tests (`install.sql`) 
+- **Dependency Validation** - Tests extension dependency requirements
+- **Clean Installation** - Tests CREATE EXTENSION without conflicts
+- **Clean Removal** - Tests DROP EXTENSION without orphaned objects
+
+### pgTAP Integration Tests (`pgtap.sql`)
+- **tf.tap() Function** - Tests pgTAP wrapper functionality
+- **Error Handling** - Tests proper error reporting for invalid inputs
+- **Extension Dependencies** - Validates test_factory_pgtap requires test_factory
+
+## Test Data Model
+
+### Test Tables
+```sql
+CREATE TABLE customer(
+    customer_id   serial  PRIMARY KEY,
+    first_name    text    NOT NULL, 
+    last_name     text    NOT NULL
+);
+
+CREATE TABLE invoice(
+    invoice_id      serial  PRIMARY KEY,
+    customer_id     int     NOT NULL REFERENCES customer,
+    invoice_date    date    NOT NULL,
+    due_date        date
+);
+```
+
+### Test Data Sets
+- **customer 'insert'** - Simple INSERT statement returning customer data
+- **customer 'function'** - Function-based test data creation  
+- **invoice 'base'** - Invoice with dependency on customer 'insert' set
+
+## Running Tests
+
+### Basic Test Execution
+```bash
+make test              # Full test suite with clean install
+make installcheck      # Run tests against already installed extension
+```
+
+### Test Development Workflow
+```bash
+# Make changes to test files
+vim test/sql/base.sql
+
+# Run tests to verify
+make test
+
+# If tests pass but output differs, update expected results
+make results
+```
+
+### Test Debugging
+- Test output appears in `test/results/`
+- Differences shown in `test/regression.diffs` if tests fail
+- Use `\set ECHO all` in test SQL files for detailed debugging
+
+## Test Architecture Details
+
+### pgTAP Integration
+- Tests use pgTAP assertion functions: `is()`, `results_eq()`, `bag_eq()`, `lives_ok()`
+- `no_plan()` allows dynamic test counting
+- Tests run in transactions with automatic rollback
+
+### Security Testing Strategy
+- Creates unprivileged `test_role` to validate security boundaries
+- Tests run with restricted permissions to catch privilege escalation issues
+- Validates all security definer functions use safe search_path settings
+
+### Dependency Testing
+- Tests multi-level dependencies (invoice → customer)
+- Validates data creation order and consistency
+- Tests that dependency data is created automatically and cached
+
+### Error Condition Testing
+- Tests invalid table names and missing test sets
+- Validates proper error messages and SQL state codes
+- Tests edge cases like non-existent tables in tf.tap()
+
+## Test Data Lifecycle
+
+1. **Setup Phase** - Creates test role, schemas, and tables
+2. **Registration Phase** - Registers test data definitions  
+3. **Execution Phase** - Calls tf.get() to trigger data creation
+4. **Validation Phase** - Verifies data correctness and caching behavior
+5. **Cleanup Phase** - Transaction rollback removes all test data
+
+This comprehensive test suite ensures the test_factory extension works correctly across different PostgreSQL versions and usage patterns, with particular attention to security and data integrity.
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